Everything She Does Is Magic

by Maggie Shayne

  But this night was different. Tonight there was something else ringing in his ears, and the buzzing was louder, deeper. More urgent. The sounds beyond the buzzing worried him. They sounded like crying. Someone small and frightened, crying. He puzzled over that for a second or two. It wasn't like he could really hear it. More like he felt it. Soft sobs tearing at his chest, only they weren't his.

  He had the oddest feeling that something was wrong.

  Thomas pulled open the drawer of the desk beside his bed and took out his slingshot. He stroked the smooth, gleaming handle where he'd carved his initials. He'd better take it along, just in case.

  When he pushed open the window, cool air rushed in to chill him, so he grabbed his jacket off the bedpost and slipped it on, dropping the slingshot into the pocket. Then he climbed out the window, down the trellis just like always, and he started off over the back lawn and through the wheat fields. He ran a little faster than usual. That sense that something was wrong got stronger the farther he went.

  For some reason, he didn't stop at the little knoll near the stream tonight. Something told him that wasn't far enough. Whatever was wrong wasn't there. It was in the woods just beyond.

  He muttered his only cuss word, wishing he'd for once remembered his dad's reminders to wear shoes when he went outside. The ground was cold, and in the woods it was rough and uneven, with gnarled roots reaching up to trip him. Too late to go back for shoes now, though. He didn't know where he was going. He didn't know why; he just knew he had to, so he went.

  The woods grew thicker. He shouldn't feel nervous. He played here all the time. But it sure was different at night, darker, of course, and so quiet. Usually there were birds making so much racket you could barely hear yourself think. Not tonight, though. Even the wind seemed to have decided not to come into these woods tonight. He shrugged a little deeper into his jacket. At least it was warmer here in the trees without that chilly wind.

  And there was a little light. Moonlight, but it only came through the thick branches here and there, and it wasn't much help. It made odd, out-of-shape shadows that tried to scare him. Like that one just now. Looked just like a man walking, just beyond a stand of berry briars. But that was stupid. It was gone a second later. Just a shadow, that’s all it was.

  But now he saw an eerie green glow spilling into the woods. Seemed to be coming from the clearing right near the center, an open, grassy spot where he liked to go. He called it the secret meadow because it was so well hidden by the trees all around it. Thomas moved a little closer, trying to be as quiet as he could, though he didn't really know why he ought to.

  Then he caught his breath and tried to stop his heart from hammering as he ducked behind a tree. Something very big and very bright sat in the secret meadow. It resembled a fat, green, glowing spider. He thought he knew what it was, but he didn't really want to know. He didn't even want to stay there and watch it, but he couldn't seem to look away.

  Then that crying sound in his head got louder, and he turned. It was like some kind of super powered magnet was pulling at him. But it was no magnet. It was that crying that drew him onward, deeper into the trees, farther than he'd ever been from his farm before.

  He walked for quite a ways. He ought to be worried about getting lost out here, since he wasn't real familiar with this part of the woods. But he wasn't. The farther he went, the quicker he walked, and the crying sounds in his head got louder and louder.

  And then they got all soft again. Only they were not in his bead anymore. They were real, and he was hearing them with his ears. He followed the sounds and only muttered "Holy cow" when he finally found where they were coming from.

  She sat huddled against a big oak tree with her knees drawn to her chest and a mass of black hair hiding her face. There was a pool of moonlight shining down on the spot where she sat, like some spotlight pointing her out to him. The poor little thing must be terrified out there all alone. She was shaking all over, and sobbing so hard it made his throat kind of swell up just to hear her. He started toward her, then froze in his tracks when he heard the growl from just beyond her.

  He spotted the dog. She must have heard it, too, 'cause her head came up fast, eyes huge and scared looking, and she uttered a little shriek when she turned to see it behind her. The dog looked like a stray, skinny and mean, crouched and snarling a few feet from her.

  Thomas's young shoulders straightened a little and he felt a rush of anger as he bent to scoop up a stone with one hand, yanking out his slingshot with the other. He took careful aim and let fly.

  The stone pinged off the dog's head. It turned its ugly gaze on him, teeth bared. Thomas grabbed another rock, a bigger one, and this time he pegged the animal right on the snout. The dog gave a soft yelp.

  "Go on, get out of here!" Thomas fitted another rock into the sling, but the dog was already turning tail and loping off when he released it.

  Thomas smiled and looked at the girl. She stared back at him, wide-eyed, still afraid. He had to blink twice when he got a good look at her. She was the prettiest girl he'd ever seen, even in the pale moonlight. He figured she was about his age, maybe nine or ten. And without even asking her, he knew she was lost. He held out his hand. She only stared at it and bit her lip.

  “It’s okay,” he told her. He wiggled his hand at her. “Really, it’s okay. That dog won't come back."

  She blinked but didn't move. Maybe she didn't understand. He moved closer and bent a little, clasping her hand with his. He gave a gentle tug and she got to her feet, brushing the leaves from her funny clothes with her free hand. Looked like a pair of coveralls, only they were black and tight fitting, and he couldn’t see a button or zipper anywhere.

  The small hand he held was still cold and shaking. He’d never seen anyone so scared before. He squeezed it a little and smiled at her, so she’d know he was only trying to help. “I’m Thomas,” he said softly.

  She frowned and tilted her head.

  “Thomas,” he repeated. He dropped the slingshot into his pocket and pointed to his own chest when he said it this time. Her lips moved a little. Not a smile, but almost. "Thom—us."

  "Yeah, that’s right. Thomas."

  She dipped her head. Pointing to herself as he'd done, she said softly, "Janella."

  "Janella." He nodded. "That's a real pretty name, Janella." He stared at her for a moment, amazed by her eyes. They were slanted a little and dark around the edges as if she were wearing makeup, only he knew she wasn't. With her dark hair and huge dark eyes she reminded him of some strange sort of princess. He shrugged out of his jacket, releasing her hand to do it. Then he settled it around her shoulders. Dad would be pleased with his good manners.

  "Come on, Janella. Come with me." He started forward, and she snatched his hand again, holding on tight. She came with him, but he knew she was uncertain and still scared. "It's okay. Come on.”

  He kept talking to her that way, urging her along through the woods back the way he’d come. She clung to his hand the whole time. He’d never really thought it was much of a thrill to hold a girl’s hand before, but he held hers anyhow. She was scared, and if it made her feel better then he figured it was worth it. Besides, she was holding on so tight he didn’t think he could pull his hand away even if he wanted to.

  He walked slowly, so she could keep up, and it took quite a while to get back to the clearing. But as soon as that green glow spilled onto them, he knew he'd done the right thing. Her eyes got even bigger, and she smiled fully for the first time. He stood still for a second. Gosh, she was even prettier in the bright light. And before he knew what she was thinking, she threw her arms around his neck and hugged him so hard he could barely breathe.

  When she released him, he looked at the ground, embarrassed. She took something from around her neck and put it around his. A charm of some sort, hanging from a light chain. Well, if that didn't beat everything. All he'd done was show her the way back. His spine got a little straighter, and for the first time in his lif
e, Thomas Duffy felt like a real live hero.

  She handed him his jacket, even as he was racking his brain to think of something to give her in return. He ought to give her something, hadn't he? He pulled his jacket on and stuffed his hands into the pockets. He'd forgotten all about the cold until now. The smooth wood of his slingshot touched his palm, and he nodded, pulling it out. It would make a good present. He'd carved it himself from an old beech tree, and he'd coated it in pretty brown stain and polyurethane so it gleamed. He'd worked for weeks on it. If anyone had told him a week ago that he'd willingly give it away to some strange, pretty girl, he'd have said they were nuts. But for some reason, he didn't mind parting with it now. He pressed it into her hand.

  She looked at it, tilting her head one way and another. Then her head came up, as if she'd heard something, though Thomas hadn't heard a sound. She looked into his eyes once more, smiled gently at him, and for the first time in history, Thomas wondered what it would be like to kiss a girl. Really weird, since he didn't even like girls.

  So why was his mind stuck on Janella's lips like this? He frowned a little, working up his nerve. But she turned and ran away, down into the clearing, disappearing into that blinding green light. Thomas sighed long and hard. He ought to get home. But instead, he sat down on the cool, hard ground, and he waited.

  A few seconds passed. No more. Then the light rose without a single sound. It flashed brighter, so bright he had to cover his eyes, and then it was gone.

  Thomas sat there for a long time before he finally made himself get up and start back home. He felt good, really good. He'd done a good thing tonight, and he figured that if his dad knew about it, he'd be darned proud.

  But his dad couldn't know. No one could. Thomas knew he had to keep the secret, the same way he'd known he had to come out here tonight. He vowed he'd do just that, even if it killed him. Besides, who'd believe him anyway?

  The next morning, Dad showed him the article on the front page of the Sumac Daily Star. UFO Seen By Over 100! Dad said it was the silliest thing he'd ever heard. Thomas didn't say a word. Even when a carload of strangers in dark suits came around town asking questions about it, Thomas stuck to his promise.

  For months and months after that strange night, he went out to the knoll and watched and waited, but he never saw them again. He never heard that buzzing sound that told him they were near. And he never saw that beautiful princess, except once or twice in his dreams.

  Find Stargazer on Smashwords.

  Also Available on Smashwords:

  Shayne’s Supernaturals

  Wings in the Night Reborn

  Twilight Guardians

  Twilight Vendetta

  The Rhiannon Chronicles

  The Fairies of Rush

  Fairytale

  Forever Enchanted

  Once Upon A Time

  The Immortal Witches

  Eternity

  Infinity

  Destiny

  Eternal Love: The Immortal Witch Series

  Stand Alone Titles

  Annie's Hero

  The Bride Wore A Forty-Four

  The Fairy’s Wish

  Gingerbread Man

  The Texas Brands

  The Littlest Cowboy

  The Baddest Virgin in Texas

  Badlands Bad Boy

  Long Gone Lonesome Blues

  The Lone Cowboy

  Lone Star Lonely

  The Outlaw Bride

  Texas Angel

  Texas Homecoming

  The Oklahoma Brands

  The Brands Who Came for Christmas

  Brand-New Heartache

  Secrets and Lies

  A Mommy For Christmas

  Sweet Vidalia Brand

  And MAGGIE'S NON-FICTION

  Shayne On You

  Magick and the Law of Attraction: A User’s Guide

  About the Author

  New York Times bestselling author Maggie Shayne has published more than 50 novels and 23 novellas. She has written for 7 publishers and 2 soap operas, has racked up 15 Rita Award nominations and actually, finally, won the damn thing in 2005.

  Maggie lives in a beautiful, century old, happily haunted farmhouse named “Serenity” in the wildest wilds of Cortland County, NY, with her soul-mate, Lance. They share a pair of English Mastiffs, Dozer & Daisy, and a little English Bulldog, Niblet, and the wise guardian and guru of them all, the feline Glory, who keeps the dogs firmly in their places. Maggie’s a Wiccan high priestess (legal clergy even) and an avid follower of the Law of Attraction

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